Parsippany artists' creations bring more beauty into the world

STAFF WRITER |

Parsippany Life

By Lisa Kintish

"Iguana Dreams" by Marilyn Jean Simon.

Henry and Marilyn Jean Simon’s Parsippany home is like an art museum, filled with their own work that they frequently show to visitors. These local artists have also made a name for themselves beyond the township’s borders.

Marilyn Jean Simon in her Parsippany home, which is decorated with the art she and her husband, Henry, have created.

Henry is a sculpture who uses common materials such as plumbing pipes, roofing copper, copper wires, and brass. Among his many pieces is a full-sized sculpture of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that was dedicated by Governor Thomas Kean and is permanently on display at the Passaic County Community College. Another sculpture, "Zonora Plays Carnegie Hall," is a life-sized rendering of an African-American woman playing the violin. It was displayed at the Paterson Museum in the winter of 2007.

Marilyn’s works have also been displayed at the Paterson Museum, Passaic County Community College, and Montclair State University. Her paintings are what she describes as "multi-media constructions." She uses canvases in various shapes and attaches fiber items and found objects to them. Then, she applies acrylic paint on top.

"Most of my paintings are based on nature which inspires me every day. I also draw inspiration from the objects themselves," said Marilyn.

Marilyn observed that she has been interested in art for as long as she can remember. She received a B.A. from Montclair State College in 1967 and a master’s degree from the school (then Montclair State University) in 1997. She also attended the Art Students League from 1969-1970, where the American painter Will Barnet was her instructor.

Henry is self-taught, learning on his own to do everything, including solder and weld, but like Marilyn, developed a creative interest at a young age. As Marilyn noted, "His dad, who was a sharecropper in the segregated South, taught him and his brothers to fashion their own toys from wire."

Years ago, Henry entered art shows and craft fairs which drew attention to his creative talents. His work reportedly sold well and there were also commissioned pieces to fans from as far away as Germany and Poland. Henry also attracted media attention. A producer from the NY Fox network saw him at the Meadowlands and put him on a local show and according to Marilyn, all the major stations carried the dedication of the Dr. King sculpture. At the time, Henry was presented the Parsippany Mayor’s Award from former mayor, Frank Priore.

Marilyn offered, "Since Dr. King was Henry’s personal hero, it was a tremendous honor to create the sculpture. "

Both Henry and Marilyn, who are 37-year residents of Parsippany, work full time, leaving less time for their art than they would like.

"Our vision for our work is basically doing what we love, trying to bring a little more beauty into the world," said Marilyn.

On his website, Henry states, "My sculptures reflect my life. Many of them portray people and things that I remember from my childhood in the rural South. Since I have never taken an art lesson in my life, I feel that these works are really extensions of myself. I am not happy unless I am working on a sculpture and always have something in progress in my workshop. I feel that my work has steadily progressed as I have learned by trial and error new techniques and materials to incorporate into my sculptures. I have recently started to experiment with color using glass enamel powder melted with a blowtorch. My mission is to bring some visual pleasure and beauty to those that see my work and to perhaps allow them to look at the world through my eyes if only for a moment."

Parsippany artists' creations bring more beauty into the world

Henry and Marilyn Jean Simon’s Parsippany home is like an art museum, filled with their own work that they frequently show to visitors. These local artists have also made a name for themselves beyond the township’s borders.

Marilyn Jean Simon in her Parsippany home, which is decorated with the art she and her husband, Henry, have created.

Henry is a sculpture who uses common materials such as plumbing pipes, roofing copper, copper wires, and brass. Among his many pieces is a full-sized sculpture of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that was dedicated by Governor Thomas Kean and is permanently on display at the Passaic County Community College. Another sculpture, "Zonora Plays Carnegie Hall," is a life-sized rendering of an African-American woman playing the violin. It was displayed at the Paterson Museum in the winter of 2007.

Marilyn’s works have also been displayed at the Paterson Museum, Passaic County Community College, and Montclair State University. Her paintings are what she describes as "multi-media constructions." She uses canvases in various shapes and attaches fiber items and found objects to them. Then, she applies acrylic paint on top.

"Most of my paintings are based on nature which inspires me every day. I also draw inspiration from the objects themselves," said Marilyn.

Marilyn observed that she has been interested in art for as long as she can remember. She received a B.A. from Montclair State College in 1967 and a master’s degree from the school (then Montclair State University) in 1997. She also attended the Art Students League from 1969-1970, where the American painter Will Barnet was her instructor.

Henry is self-taught, learning on his own to do everything, including solder and weld, but like Marilyn, developed a creative interest at a young age. As Marilyn noted, "His dad, who was a sharecropper in the segregated South, taught him and his brothers to fashion their own toys from wire."

Years ago, Henry entered art shows and craft fairs which drew attention to his creative talents. His work reportedly sold well and there were also commissioned pieces to fans from as far away as Germany and Poland. Henry also attracted media attention. A producer from the NY Fox network saw him at the Meadowlands and put him on a local show and according to Marilyn, all the major stations carried the dedication of the Dr. King sculpture. At the time, Henry was presented the Parsippany Mayor’s Award from former mayor, Frank Priore.

Marilyn offered, "Since Dr. King was Henry’s personal hero, it was a tremendous honor to create the sculpture. "

Both Henry and Marilyn, who are 37-year residents of Parsippany, work full time, leaving less time for their art than they would like.

"Our vision for our work is basically doing what we love, trying to bring a little more beauty into the world," said Marilyn.

On his website, Henry states, "My sculptures reflect my life. Many of them portray people and things that I remember from my childhood in the rural South. Since I have never taken an art lesson in my life, I feel that these works are really extensions of myself. I am not happy unless I am working on a sculpture and always have something in progress in my workshop. I feel that my work has steadily progressed as I have learned by trial and error new techniques and materials to incorporate into my sculptures. I have recently started to experiment with color using glass enamel powder melted with a blowtorch. My mission is to bring some visual pleasure and beauty to those that see my work and to perhaps allow them to look at the world through my eyes if only for a moment."